Improvement in ruffling-device for sewing-machines



BROOKS & MANNING. Sewing Machine Rufilr.

Patented Dec. 8, 1868;

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MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 84,676, dated December 8, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN RUIPLING-DEVICE FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

The Schedule rfen'gdto in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, REUBEN Bnoons, Jr., and WILLIAM N. Meme, both of Itockport, in the county of EsseX,-and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful instrument called aBufiier, and designed as an attachment to sewing-machinesand we dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference. being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of these specifications.

This invention relates to a new and improved instrument for the purpose of facilitating the process of gathering and sewing on at oneoperation, otherwise called rufiiing; and

The invention consists in providing an adjustable tension for the upper cloth or band, and also in means for guiding the edges of the cloth against the gauge, as hereinafter described.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of 'the instrument above referred to.

' Figures 2 and 3 are vertical and hon'zontal projec tions.

Figure 4 shows the manner of operation.

Figure 5 shows the manner in which the tension of the upper cloth is adjusted, and the arrangement for releasing the tension without turning the tensionscrew G.

Figure 6 is an inverted view of the spring-guide F.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

A represents the plate or bed of the instrument, which is attached to the cloth-plate of the sewingmachine by means of a thumb-screw passing through the slot a, by which, also, the width of the seam taken .can be regulated.

is attached to and forms partof the tension-bar B.

The tension upon the upper cloth is produced by the friction of the presser D upon the cloth, P, while passing over the tension-plate E, (see fig. 4,) and the degree of tension is regulated by the thumb-screw G.

The cylinder G and presser D arejnclined obliquely to the line z z of the gauge-plate A, (see 'figs. 1 and 3,)

' and the tension-plate E is marked with oblique lines or grooves, d d", fig. 3, for'the purpose of keeping the edge of the cloth P against the guide e.

The spring-guide F is secured to the'undcr side of the tension-plate E in such a manner as to pennit'of i s.

being adjusted to bear upon the cloth at any angle required, as shown in fig. 3, and its free end is cut obliquely, and the edges f f turned down, as shown in fig. 6, in such a manner that when in operation it shall tend to keep the edge of the under cloth against the edge 2 z of the plate A.

K -is a movable guide, swinging upon a pivot, V, and provided with a short pin, it, which presses upon the cloth-plate of the sewing-machine; and between this pin and the edge z z of the plate A, the under cloth passes. Its object is to insure the proper position of the under cloth upon the machine without the attendance of the hand.

If wide fabrics are to be sewed, this guide-bar K can be swung upon its pivot V until inthe position. indicated in fig. 2, when it is entirely out of the way.

By keeping the bar K in the position in fig. 2, and passing both pieces of cloth under the tension-plate E and spring-guide F, the whole instrument can be used as a. simple gauge for plain sewing, the springguide F taking the place of and dispensing with the use of the instrument called a self-sewer.

Whenever a new piece of cloth is to be inserted between the presser D and the tension-plate E, it is necessary that the presser should be removed from contact with the tension-plate, and, in order that this may be done without changing the tension-screwG, the end of the tension-bar B is provided with a hole, I), of suffioient size to slide freely over the collar T of the screw G, fig. 5, and this hole is covered by the plate H, which is provided with a slot just large enough'to receive the neck of the screw S. p

, This slotted plate H is pivoted-to the tension-bar B at the point h, fig. 5.

It will be seen that to release the tension upon the upper cloth, it is only necessary to press slightly upon the end of the plate H, and turn it in the direction indicated by the dotted lines in fig. 3, when the spring I causes the tension-bar B to rise, and removes the presser D from contact with the tension-plate E.

The cloth P can then be inserted, and the plate H pressed downwards and turned back to its first position, as shown in fig. 1, when the tension will be the same as before.

In fig. 5, N represents the cloth-plate of the sewinglnachine;

O, the feed-bar;

L, the cloth-presser; and

M, the needle.

In order to gather and sew on at the same time,

by the common sewing-machine with a single feed, it is necessary that while the lower cloth is allowed to feed freely, the upper cloth should 'be retarded in its motion to about one-half the speed of the lower cloth.

To do this, it is customary to hold the upper cloth P 1 between the thumb and finger, in such a manner as to permit the proper amount of feed. But this process is a very uncertain and diihcult one, as it is almost impossible that the pressure of the fingers should be perfectly regular. It is also very weari'some to the operator to continue the process for any considerable time, as the muscles of the hand become tired, and perfect work is-then impossible.

It will also be seen that the hand is not at liberty for other purposes.

In fact, so difficult is the present process, that very few persons can perform the operation at all.

To render the tension above referredto perfectly adjustable and regular, is the object of this invention. \Ve do not claim the guide-bar K, as a similar arrangement has heretofore been used; neither do we claim providing the spring F with the projecting edges J "f but What we do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the bar B, slotted plate H, and screw G, all constructed substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The rubber presser D, combined with the bar B,

and tension-plate E, substantially as specified. 3. The adjustable spring-guide F, in combination with the tension-plate E and presser D, as specified.

REUBEN BROOKS, JR. Witnesses: WM. N .'M ANNIN Gr.

EBEN BLATGHIFORD, WILLIAM WINGooD, Jr. 

